For Immediate Release
July 13, 2007
400 Minnesota National Guard Troops to Deploy to Kosovo
More than 400 Minnesota Army National Guard Soldiers will depart Minnesota within the next few days to support the Kosovo International Security Force (KFOR) and be responsible for NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo for one year.
The deploying Soldiers are from the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry headquartered in Mankato. The specific units mobilized are Headquarters and Headquarters Company in Mankato; A Company in West St. Paul; B Company in Rochester; C Company in Winona and Owatonna; D Company in Albert Lea; and F Company, 334th Brigade Support Battalion in Austin.
"This mission is ideally suited for the Army National Guard because it involves two key areas we specialize in " community assistance and homeland defense,"said Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General.
The Soldiers will depart for Camp Atterbury, Indiana on Wednesday, July 18th to begin specific training, such as cultural and language studies, learning to conduct presence patrols, maneuvering military vehicles on Kosovo's narrow roads and identifying and reacting to potential hazards like landmines.
Members of the media are invited to attend the departure ceremonies in each community:
10:00 a.m. Sunday, July 15th
B Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
Rochester National Guard Armory
1715 Marion Road SE
Rochester, MN 55904
2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 15th
A Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
St Croix Lutheran High School
1200 Oakdale Ave West
West St Paul MN 55418
6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 15th
F Company, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
Austin National Guard Armory
800 21 Street NE
Austin, MN 55912
10:00 a.m. Monday, July 16th
D Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
Albert Lea Armory
410 Prospect AVE
Albert Lea, MN 56007
2:00 p.m. Monday, July 16th
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
Mankato Armory
100 Martin Luther King Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 18th
Final Battalion Formation for the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry
Rochester Airport
7600 Helgerson DR SW
Rochester, MN 55902
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Captain Paul Rickert
Office: 651-268-8855
Cell: 612-239-0891
E-Mail: public.affairs@mn.ngb.army.mil
Staff Sgt. Dan Ewer
Office: 651-268-8676
Cell: 952-454-4889
E-Mail: public.affairs@mn.ngb.army.mil
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